A quick car seat check can make all the difference this holiday season ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Time for a car seat check?

The Christmas and summer holiday season is almost here! Many families are packing the car to visit friends, whānau, or enjoy a well-earned getaway. Before you hit the road, it’s the perfect time to check your child’s car seat is installed and fitted correctly, for your peace of mind on every journey 🧡

With more families on the road this time of year, a quick car seat check is one of the simplest ways to help keep everyone safe.

Car seat basics 📋

Every child up to 7 years must legally travel in an approved child restraint;
Best practice is to keep children in a booster seat until they reach at least 148cm tall, which can be up to 10–12 years;
If you’re travelling overseas with your child, check your car seat meets the approved safety standards of your destination. While New Zealand accepts several standards, not all seats are approved for use in every country.

Long road trip tips for families 🚗

Plan breaks every 1–2 hours so little ones can stretch, move, and reset;
Stop at playgrounds or safe rest areas when possible to release excess energy;
Pack snacks, drinks, favourite toys, and play music or audiobooks to help pass the time.

Checking your car seat at home

If you're checking your car seat yourself, here are a few key things to look for.

Check the installation ✅

Refer to your car seat instruction manual to refresh how the seat should look once correctly installed in your vehicle;
Check the seat is not expired or damaged;
Ensure the seat is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, or height;
Select the seating position. The rear middle seat is safest when available, otherwise behind the passenger;
Confirm all connection points are installed as per the manual;
To test a correct install, at the belt path or seat base, give the seat a firm shake. It should not move more than 2.5cm in any direction;
Rear-facing seats should recline between 30–45 degrees. Most seats include a built-in recline indicator.

Check your child's fit ✅

Ensure the seat orientation (rear or forward facing) is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, or height;
Adjust the headrest and shoulder straps to the correct height;
Do the pinch test. If you can pinch the harness at your child's shoulders, it's too loose and requires tightening.

Need extra confidence?

If you'd feel more confident with an expert doing your car seat checks, then our trained car seat technicians are here to help. Available in every store, our team are well-versed in all New Zealand child restraint standards. We'll check your installation, help you achieve a correct fit, and ensure you're confident to reinstall your seat whenever needed.

Our goal is to give you complete peace of mind that your child is travelling safely, every time.

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